Separation of metallic sulfid ores.



iii

THE S HEBBAPLD AAND BASMUE JOHN HJHRIVIEY, 6F BRQKEN HELL, NEW' SOUTHAUSTILELLIA, ASEIGNOM, MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TU MIll'EEAL3 ESEPAR-ATIONNOR'llH AMERICAN COELPORATIGN.

SEPARATION OF METALLIC SULYEID GEES.

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5. b all whom i6 may cmzcem:

Be it known limiwe, Jimmie llnnmno ancl lhenms Jonn iiilifikllvlll'i',subjects of the King of England, both residing in; Central Til line,l'lt'oken Hill, New Soul/l1 lleles, Aneltalin, have invented certain newand nselfiil Timprovenien ss in line Segmel'ion Elie-$21111!) SuliidQree, of which 31 1 following is e speoifiealion.

This invention relnl 1o vermin matters in the separation of nniiei'lzinc and lead soiiicl oresnncl more s s}1)e0iall3-' to. the treatmentoi. slimes. 1

ln this speeifioaL-ion jlie tern ores is iintei'icled in includeconcentrates, tailin s, slimes ami other products containing mixedmetallio sulfide.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved method ofeffecting a li'fi'erential or prefezential flotation separation of leadsnlficls (galeim) from zinc sulfide (biencle).

l ve have discovered that if mixed sulfifi ores and mo -e especiallyslimes me snbjecleti to froth flotation. separation preferably with asmall quantity of an emulsifying agent Wil'il agitation and aeration inan acid solu tion in which the quantity of acid is less than that;required to produce acollective float of both the lead and zinc sulfide:1'

preferential flotation of the lead sulfide from the /inc. sulfide can beeffected. If the residues are then subjecfi l to fnrtheiflotationseparation, treatment with agitation and aeration and in the somecircuit iiquors with the addifiion of a frofihing agent such eucalyptusoil float coineenti'etes relatively rich in zinc sen be obtained.

The aeicl {preferably sulfuric acid} which ie usecl in the firstinstance for the preferent e leacl sulfide may be milled to the circuitliquors Ofllllfi ores may be snijmit'leil to e prelimimry ligestion inen acid solution in which case the ecii l solve tion would be used in ereliminary mixing vessel. We have found he a betier separation iselko'zeal if an emulsifying egenl; is present in the eireuit liquors;even if only in minute quantities; ll circuit licgnors pie vionsly nseoin froth ilemtien eemraelen are employed (which are more or lees airemuls'i ilxen as e rule no addition oi? en gong agent is izequired lueflee Elie i 1 i: so Jim, hill. 1,: clean water; 5.5;

Epecification. of letters Patent.

Application filed August 28, E914.

Patented Serial No. EEBfiSTI.

Mien". 25H, HMS

eepumi ion in a circuit liquor n ich l1e lpweviously been need in frothflomtion severe lion, an amount of sulfuric lo 4; ins per ion of ore l1"with the tieeail. No a. d i in (11" enmlsifying agent was made. 'll'ielion; eonconlrni'es produced from the first box Nye-(l Goff/Z; lead and9.8% nine and own; ing the float products from the twelve be} in theseries a lead oouconhfnte use 50.5{54 lead and 212% zine Wee Obi)representing a recovery of 62.9% lead.

ll imt We claim as our invention owl iesire to secure l" Letters.Pat-ent is 1.. A process for the separation of lead Silifid from zincsuliid in owe containing mixed lead and Zinc suliinls wiiieii consistsin submitting such an ore to ixz'eni'eneni' with an acid solutioncontaining a mineral acid in quantity froth flotation separation, and toagit. on and aeration, so to form a frolh in which the lead sulfidpredominates, and supra-aiing the froth.

2. A process for the separation of lead sulfid fro zinc sulfid in oresconleining mixed iezul and Zinc suifirls which consists in. submittingseal], an ore :30 treatment with an acid solution containing a mineralacid.

in quantity less than the normal quantity 01 separation of leecl m orescontammg mixed lea-cl enel Zinc sulfide which consists" in submittingsuch an ore to a flotation separation treatment by agitation aiiclaeration in Wei-er containing a, quantity of mineral eeid less than isrequired in produce e ml: lee-live flee-h of will the lead mail zine an?anal eonleining a, frei-lxing agent in AZ men one queneity for infill;

less than lhe normal quantitv for tion separation, so as to form a frothin which the lead sulfid predominates, and separating the froth. I

i. A process for the separation of lead snlfid from zinc sulfid in orescontaining mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in submitting suchan ore to a flotation separation treatment by agitation and aeration inwater containing a quantity of mineral acid less than is required toproduce a collective float of both the lead and zinc su1- fids andcontaining, a frotliing agent in less than the normal quantity for frothflotation separation so as to form a froth in which the lead sulfidpredominates, and thereafter submitting the tailings to a further frothflotation-treatment with the addition of a frothino agent for theflotation of a froth in which the zinc sulfid predominates, andseparating the froth.

5. A process for the separation of lead sulfid from zinc sulfid in orescontaining mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in submitting suchan ore to treatment with a solution containing sulfuric acid in quantityless than the normal quantity for froth flotation separation, and toagitation and aeration, so as to form a froth in which the lead suifidpredominates, and separating the froth.

6. A process for the separation of lead sulfid from zinc sulfid in orescontaining mixed lead and zinc sulfide which consists in submitting suchan ore to treatment with a solution containing sulfuric acid in quantityless than the normal quantity for froth flotation separation, and toagitation and aeration, so as to form a froth in which the lead sulfidpredominates, and thereafter submitting the tailings to a further frothflotation treatment with the addition of a frothing agent for theflotation of a froth in which the zinc sulfid predominates, andseparating; the froth.

7. A process for the separation of lead sultid from zinc sulfid in orescontaining mixed lead and zinc sulfids which consists in submitting suchan ore to a flotation separation treatment by agitation and aeration inwater containing eucalyptus oil. in less than the normal quantity forfroth fiotation separation, with the addition of a quantity of sulfuricacid less than is required to produce a collective float of both thelead and zinc sulfids, so as to form a froth in which the lead sulfidpredominates, and separating the froth.

8. A process for the separation of lead sulfid from zinc sultid in orescontaining mixed lead and zinc sulfids i hieh consists in submittingsuch an ore to a flotation separation treatment by agitation andaeration in Water containing eucalyptus oil in less than the normalquantity for froth flotation, with the addition of a quantity ofsulfuric acid less than is required to produce a collective float ofboth the lead and zinc sulfids, so as to form a froth in which the leadsulfid predominates, and thereafter submitting the tailings to a furtherfroth flotation trealn'ient with the addition of a frothing agent forthe flotation of a froth in which the zinc sulfid predominates, andseparating the froth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES HEBBARD. RASMUS JOHN HARVEY.

Witnesses to the signature of James Hebbard:

ERNEST WILLIAM Moss, Gnoixon GUY TALMONDTH. \Vitnesses to signature ofRasmus John Harvey:

ARTHUR Gone COLLIsON, LESLIE Hsncnirr BROADBURT.

